TIRANA, April 28 /ATA/ – Albania has made concrete progress in reforms to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said on Tuesday.
The remarks came after the country hosted an assessment mission by MONEYVAL over the past two weeks, which Koçiu described as a key moment to demonstrate progress and the direction of reforms.
In a video message posted on social media, Deputy PM Koçiu said Albania’s removal in 2023 from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), along with improving financial and economic indicators, underscored its position as a reliable international partner.
According to Koçiu, efforts to formalise the economy and strengthen anti-money laundering measures have translated into higher confidence and increased activity within the banking system.
Reducing cash use and shifting towards a digital, traceable economy remains a priority, she said, adding that online transactions rose by 30% and euro-denominated transactions by 25% at the start of this year.
Koçiu said lending grew by 13% last year, while foreign direct investment exceeded 1.5 billion euros, a record level. At the same time, authorities have tripled the number of asset freezes and seizures linked to suspected illicit origin.
She said the government would press ahead with reforms, including new legislation to strengthen real-time monitoring and blocking of suspicious transactions, supported by new technologies and artificial intelligence.
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